I wasn’t always known as the darker, quieter brother out of the three of us. Watching your best friend die will do that to a person. The day I lost him, my world went dark. Every day I get up, I go to work, I make an appearance to keep the questions at bay, and then I go home, back to the quiet loneliness I’ve found comfort in for the last four years. Rinse and repeat. Until Olivia Donahue blew into my life. I wasn’t expecting her. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the fire in her blue eyes that only I can seem to put there. I wasn’t expecting her to scale the walls I had spent years building and begin pulling them down brick by brick. But most of all, I wasn’t expecting to want her this badly. And I’ll do whatever it takes to have her.
I have been counting down the days for this book release! I loved Savannah and Hunter’s story but I have to say Grayson and Olivia have my whole heart ❤️ a beautifully written story and I expected nothing less! The tension and spice between the two was absolute perfection. I love love loved it. I cannot wait for more books in the series.. Noah and Bella or Killian and Daisy! I just know they’re going to be incredible ❤️
I was looking forward to Grayson and Olivia’s story and it really did not disappoint. The story was written beautifully and I think Grayson and Olivia’s past trauma was written so well. I laughed, I cried, cried abit more! I’m so happy Grayson finally let himself love and Olivia couldn’t have been better to help him find himself again.
I think it’s Killian and Daisy’s turn next, and can’t wait 🤗
Yes I waited up to midnight to download this and read it. I have waited MONTHS and I just knew that Grayson and Livs story was going to blow my mind. 🥺
Graysons grumpy demeanour to everyone because he’s hurting so bad from the loss of his best friend which he had to witness. Olivia having to live alone for the first time since her parent’s death when Savannah moves out!
When Liv tells Gray about her first experience with panic attack after witnessing him storm out because of one. I’m sorry but that broke my heart. She seen him struggling and instead of digging into what his was about.. she told him her worst one so that he didn’t feel alone and that she “seen” him. 😭
Honestly this book 10/10! I cannot say enough how much I couldn’t put this book down because I just needed to know if they made it! But then the crash. Sweet lord I was an emotional wreck. 😥
Savanna finding Gray after the crash because she’s the only one who he won’t blow off on. She’s got her best friends back regardless if he’s her brother in law and tells him how it is which he needed to hear!!
Poor Carter. 🤣👊🏼
So glad that Gray pushed his emotions to get through and realise he can be happy and fight for Liv. Especially with that speech 👏🏼
The epilogue. I’m going to be thinking about this book so much! I loved it. I loved their story. Grayson has my heart🩵
4.5 I loved this book, it had been gripped from the beginning. Gray and Liv’s chemistry was hot, Grumpy x Sunshine vibes but with deep grief behind them eyes.
I found the author write the grief so honestly, it’s was relatable and heartbreaking at times but the found family element of this book, gives your heart a squeeze.
Liv could see Gray for who he really was and Gray was not always so grumpy, ah I loved them! Liv has such a fun personality and loves Sav so much, but she feels lonely following the 1st book but seeing her overcome so much.
This book will grip you, have you on the edge, you’ll laugh and smile and maybe cry! So good!
Obsessed with this series, I seriously can’t put the books down!!!!! Gray was such a DICK but he won me over in the end, and Liv was such a good FMC. YAY can’t wait for Killian now
The first chapter had me emotionally gripped!! I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes with this book, all in a good way!! I knew reading grayson and livs story would be touching and deep but it was also fun and had me laughing. Another great book!
Again wow what another great book from B.L Payne! What can I say Grayson is 100% my favourite I know he would be from the start. Such as easy read and story to follow. Cannot wait for the next instalments from this series!
Another excellent read! Grayson is a broken man full of grief but when Olivia sets where sights on him she breaks all his walls down. Great story of greif, coping & heartbreaking moments.
Loved Olivia’s character she was feisty and so funny. Grayson dark cold contrasted her personality! Amazing story Highly recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book had me staying up late because I just didn’t want to put it down!! Absolutely loved it, the characters? So strong and know exactly what they want, funny and emotional, perfect!
Star Rating - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️.5 Tropes: Small Town/Ranch Grumpy/Sunshine Found Family British FMC
I have been waiting for this since I finished the Shattered Heart (the first in the series) and was super lucky to get an ARC before release.
Shattered Heart and it did not disappoint! Grayson’s grief. Olivia’s quiet strength. That panic attack scene? Devastatingly beautiful. I couldn’t stop reading—needed to know if they’d make it. Then the crash hit like a punch to the gut.
Savannah showing up. The family speech. Gray maybe didn’t grovel enough, but my heart? Melted.
10/10. Emotional, raw, unforgettable. All in all, this book is sweet, emotional, and funny in all the right places. Bring on book 3 I honestly can’t wait for the rest of this series🩵🩵
Who doesn't love a brooding, grumpy cowboy 🤠 OMW just when I thought I loved Hunter along comes Grayson. Absolutely devoured this book from start to finish and was so disappointed when it ended. Loved how it started, loved how we got more insight into Hunter and Savs life and loved loved loved the relationship between Grayson and Liv. They pulled eachother out of the dark. Their story was beautifully written and I loved their chemistry. Ahhh cannot wait for book 3. Please tell me it's going to be Killian's story!!! p.s. can we have more spice?
I really liked book 1 and was excited to read this one. unfortunately it just didn't hit the same for me. The spice started at like 30% there was also a really awkward moment when his entire family knew (probably heard) them do some spicy shit.... if you're into that then cool but I am not. I liked the grief representation and I liked the characters individually but the third act conflict made me dislike them together. I do really like this world so I will be reading book 3 I'm just sad I didn't vibe with this as much.
I have been waiting for Grayson's book since I read Shattered Heart in January and I was not disappointed! I was already in love with Grayson but this book has very much solidified my love for him! The character arc he had was beautiful and I loved watching him come out of the darkness that was hovering over him. He was so gone for Olivia it was great to see! Olivia is someone who hates the dark and thrives in the light but she is drawn towards Grayson's darkness for a reason she doesn't want to acknowledge - She is still grieving her parent's but hasn't fully dealt with their death yet! Grayson and Olivia's connection is strong and beautiful! I am loving this series and I'm excited for both Killian and Noah's books next.
Shattered Mind is a beautifully written small-town cowboy romance in which both the MMC and the FMC are dealing with grief from losing someone close to them. The MMC, Grayson Calloway, is a grumpy, closed-off cowboy, while the FMC, Olivia Donahue, is a smart-mouthed, fun-loving gal.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think it flowed really well. Seeing the characters develop both individually and together is incredible.
I very much enjoyed seeing glimpses of the characters from the first book in the series Broken Hearts; I loved seeing them again and how they were getting on.
I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a small-town cowboy romance with grumpy/sunshine elements and some spice.
Grayson is “ if he could do better he still wouldn’t”
First off, frenemies to lovers, he falls first, hurt closed off MMC are things I eat up. But this was just not executed well at all. I think the author spent too much time rehashing scenes from book one from Liv and Graysons POV, without giving much of their thoughts and feelings on it anyway, before she got to them actually making ground in their relationship, so it was rushed and didn’t punch like it could have.
I also think Graysons PTSD could have been handled better. He essentially hid for a week and almost drowned himself in whiskey, then spent a week raging, hopped a plane to London and made 2 half hearted attempts to communicate, one phone call to a therapist, some undisclosed text messages, and then he was alright and declaring his undying love infront of the entire family.
This man who has communicated in a series of grunts and scowls for 4 years is suddenly declaring undying love. With an audience?
Liv, the kiss on the porch didn’t really make sense given her personality. Something about her doesn’t scream “ I’m the type to launch myself at a man and make a fool of myself” I liked Liv, she had a backbone and self respect. Until, she didn’t. Grayson abandoned her, ghosted her, broke her heart, caused a scene in her family home making a difficult event more difficult. The times Liv really needed him, he was never there. She had to navigate through some of the worst times in her adult life alone, and then he tells her he loves her in a half arsed speech and all is forgiven? absolutely not. That man had grovelling to do, he had to earn her attention and work for forgiveness. But he didn’t. We had 40% of next to nothing in terms of moving Grayson and Livs story along, and then up to 95% they still weren’t back together. I am disappointed the author had Liv role over and accept his nonsense and I feel cheated out of the epic grovelling that man should have given her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Grayson and Olivia’s story was everything I hoped it would be after meeting them in Shattered Heart.
From the moment they were introduced in book one, I knew that when these two finally got together, it was going to be explosive—and this book absolutely delivered.
Grayson is still grieving the loss of his best friend, who died four years before the events of this story. You get a glimpse of that heartbreak in the prologue, and it sets the tone for the emotional journey he’s on.
Olivia (Liv) is Savannah’s best friend, who moved from the UK to start over alongside Savannah and her daughter. Liv is fiercely independent and carrying her own pain after losing her parents when she was younger, grief she’s never fully dealt with.
Their relationship starts off as classic enemies-to-lovers perfection. They can barely stand being in the same room, but the sexual tension between them is undeniable and practically crackles off the page in every scene they share.
When things finally boil over, they agree to a friends-with-benefits arrangement because neither of them feels ready for anything more. Both are still dealing with deep emotional wounds, and watching them slowly let their guards down, challenge each other, and begin to heal was incredibly rewarding.
And the spice? Wow.
The first book definitely had some great moments, but this one takes it up several levels. Grayson’s dominant streak was written so well, and seeing Liv—who is such a strong, capable woman—allow herself to be vulnerable with him was absolutely electric.
I genuinely need a Grayson in my life.
This book was emotional, sexy, and impossible to put down. I’m diving straight into book three, and I’m already devastated that book four isn’t out until August because I have become completely obsessed with this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4/5 stars 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice Level: Steamy with emotional depth 💔 Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine | Small-town romance | Healing from grief | Found family
Shattered Mind – B.L. Payne
Rosewater Creek is back… and this one definitely leans heavier on the emotional punches.
Grayson is broody, guarded, and carrying more grief than he knows how to handle. Olivia is warmth and light, but she’s not without her own struggles. Watching these two navigate their pain while slowly falling for each other was messy, heartfelt, and honestly addictive.
What I loved most about this story was the emotional intensity. Grayson isn’t an easy hero — he pushes, he retreats, he struggles — but that made his growth feel real. And Olivia doesn’t just exist to “fix” him; she challenges him, stands her ground, and protects her own heart too. Their chemistry? Undeniable. When the tension breaks, it really breaks 🔥
The small-town, found-family vibe is still strong here, which adds that comforting backdrop to an otherwise emotionally heavy romance. There were moments that genuinely tugged at my heart, and while I would’ve loved just a touch more grovel, the payoff was still satisfying.
If you enjoy cowboy romances with real emotional baggage, complicated heroes, and love stories built on healing rather than instant perfection, this one will definitely work for you.
Emotional, steamy, and full of heart — Rosewater Creek continues to deliver 🤍
Shattered Mind is a sad old tale about two broken people finding love. It’s a nice premise but its execution leaves a little to be desired.
Grayson towards the end of the book is a much nicer and more, frankly, appropriate Grayson than the man portrayed at the start of the book. Some of his actions are, in my opinion, non-consensual, inappropriate and manipulative at the start, and I almost put the book down when he .
Liv is very sweet and, let’s face it, too good for Grayson. I’d love to have known more about her life after moving in with Savannah’s parents or after she got her inheritance. Did she work? Did she have a plan? Goals?
Like its predecessor, Shattered Mind is set in an idealised universe where immigration laws don’t exist, houses sell within days, and babies can be conceived and born in six months. There are lots of little plot points like that that don’t add up or parts of the timeline that get confused.
Writing a book is hard and keeping track of every detail over thousands of words is hard, and I totally get that. I think it just needs a second pair of eyes to check continuity and, as with Shattered Heart, correct those grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Shattered Mind pulled me in way faster than I expected, and then just never let me breathe. The way everything slowly starts unraveling, especially with Olivia and what she’s been carrying alone, had me stressed the entire time. I just wanted her to be okay already.
And Grayson?? Yeah. He made it worse (in the best way). The way he notices things about her before anyone else does, and how he refuses to just walk away when things get messy… I was actually rooting for him so hard. The tension between him and Olivia had me hooked.
The found family in this book is EVERYTHING. Once everyone realizes what’s really going on, the way they all step in—especially Grayson; had me emotional. Nobody lets her fall through the cracks, and it makes everything feel so much heavier in a good way.
I’m loving this series so much and I adored this couple. I wanna say that I was nice seeing their story from the first book on how they met and all Grayson struggles with the loss of his best friend, and that plays a lot on who he is until he meets Olivia and things suddenly change for him even if he doesn’t want to. I liked that they pursued their attraction to each other, but there is a lot of miscommunication from his part and that frustrated Olivia, but she understood. Also I liked Olivia‘s character. She was fun and driven, and such a great friend. At the end, I was so mad at Grayson and I’m glad that I was not the only one, everyone called him out on it, eventually, they did find a way back to each other!
A story about 2 grieving souls that needed each other to confront their pasts and to heal.
I give it a 3.8/5. Personally there are certain scenes that I could not handle Grayson's actions. Like I understand his grief and trauma but still she's your girl.. how can you not be there for her during the car crash...not even to visit her in the hospital?? And he has the audacity to get mad.
On the other hand, I'm thabkful that Liv somehow showed Grayson the right path for him to heal but I felt like the story focused more on Grayson than Liv's past. Her path to her healing was just left for her to deal with alone meanwhile with Grayson, he had full support from his family and Liv. So I kind of felt bad sometimes for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shattered Mind (Rosewater Creek #2) completely pulled me in from the start.
After binge reading book one, I went straight into Olivia and Grayson’s story and I loved it. Everything about this book just worked for me. The healing felt genuine, the trauma was handled really well, and nothing felt rushed or glossed over. It was emotional in a way that actually sticks with you.
I especially loved how things started to come together in this one, so many moments felt satisfying and well built up.
Olivia and Grayson had me invested the whole time and I was rooting for them from start to finish.
This series has me in a chokehold and I already need book three. 📚
Why oh why was Grey so mean and fustrating with Olivia 😭
I really wanted to punch him and tell Olivia to go after someone else 😅 it wasn’t until literally the last few pages of the final chapter we seen him give in to his feelings. I wanted more grovel, angst and love declarations!
I am intrigued with this series though and will continue. But Hunter (book 1) is miles ahead in the league of cowboys 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I don’t know what B L Payne puts in her books, but I devoured the first two books in this series and now, I’m desperate for more.
Much like the first one, I found myself feeling all kinds of emotions through Gray and Olivia’s story, but I also found myself being able to relate to these characters more. I loved every second of Shattered Mind and I will never stop recommending the rosewater creek series.
So, if you haven’t already, you need to read this series!
This was such a cute read, and was so beautifully written. The story touched on the topic of loss and grief but it was done so in such a great way. Not gonna lie I wasn’t a huge fan of Grayson at the start but he really did grow on me and the relationship between him and liv was so sweet. Their story was such a slow burn and it did take them a while to realise and accept they loved one another but I did love how both characters developed both individually and together. Another great book in the series and I cannot wait to read the rest!!